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Would Pataki Call a Calder Painted Metal?

At a news conference urging New York City public schools to stop buying art (news article, May 7), Gov. George E. Pataki implied that one sculpture created for a school was nothing more than painted metal. Picasso, Isamu Noguchi, David Smith, Alexander Calder and other greats all created public sculptures that are nothing more than painted metals.

New York City is the art capital of the world. This creative industry is big business, contributing to the coffers of the city and the state. It should be treated with respect and enthusiasm.

RONNIE M. ELDRIDGE BRENDA LEVIN New York, May 8, 1996

The writers are members of, respectively, the City Council and City Planning Commission.